Maha Movement Gains Momentum with PETA’s Support
The Make America Healthy (Maha) movement has garnered significant attention from a diverse group of Americans for various reasons. Recently, though, PETA—an influential animal rights organization—has teamed up with the Trump administration and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to advance a new initiative.
Last week, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) declared plans to invest $87 million into a Standardized Organoid Modeling (SOM) center. This center aims to explore alternatives to reduce the reliance on animals in biomedical research. Alongside this, there are policies being proposed to support the ethical treatment of animals involved in scientific studies.
Emily Trunnell, who leads scientific advancement and outreach for PETA, shared insights with Fox News Digital. “We’ve collaborated with NIH to highlight how ineffective animal testing has been for disease research, and I think we’re on the brink of genuinely shifting toward methods that focus on human-relevant data,” she noted. “Just about a month ago, we sent them seven alarming grants… I mean, it’s clear what’s happening to these monkeys and dogs, and taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for this outdated method. We’ll keep advocating for change.”
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The ongoing debate concerning animal usage in biomedical research also sees support from the White Coat Waste Project, which has been vocal against various government initiatives under Dr. Anthony Fauci and President Biden’s term, aiming to end taxpayer-funded animal experiments. Founded by Anthony Berotti, a Republican strategist, the organization expressed satisfaction that the Trump administration is taking a stand against unnecessary animal testing.
According to their polling data, around 85% of Americans—spanning Republicans, Democrats, and independents—oppose using taxpayer funds for experiments involving animals like dogs and cats. Trunnell echoed that sentiment, asserting that many Americans, regardless of party affiliation, recognize the need for change.
“Utilizing non-animal methods tends to yield better scientific results, plus it reduces animal suffering and waste,” she pointed out.
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Trunnell remarked that people have been misled into believing that animal research is crucial for medical breakthroughs. For instance, she highlighted that an astonishing 95% of new drugs tested on animals ultimately fail in human trials due to safety issues or ineffectiveness.
She also added that most animals in research are involved in studies driven purely by curiosity. “Conversely, there are cutting-edge technologies now that rely on human data and cells,” Trunnell explained.
Reportedly, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya met with PETA representatives in July following his announcement that the agency would pivot towards less animal-dependent research models, an action that has reportedly earned him some appreciation from PETA.
In response to the recent developments, Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), expressed to Fox News Digital that these NIH and FDA initiatives underline the Trump administration’s dedication to diminishing animal testing in scientific research.
“We’re witnessing a shift towards safer, more ethical, and efficient testing methods through AI, organoid technology, and other innovative approaches,” Nixon stated. “This reflects our values and modernizes science accordingly.”
